The firewood economy: Charcoal as a new goldmine

By Adeola Akinbobola, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Rising cooking gas and kerosene prices have driven a massive surge in charcoal and firewood sales as millions of households seek affordable energy alternatives.

Across markets in cities and rural communities alike, firewood and charcoal traders are witnessing a surge in demand unlike anything they have experienced in recent years.

Nonetheless, as the charcoal market booms, environmentalists warn that excessive reliance on charcoal for cooking drives widespread deforestation, degrades soil, and accelerates climate change through immense greenhouse gas emissions.

With the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) climbing beyond N2, 000 per kilogramme in many parts of the country, families, roadside food vendors, and small restaurants are increasingly turning to traditional fuels as a cheaper alternative for daily cooking.

For traders, the trend has translated into brisk business and growing profits.

For consumers, however, it reflects the difficult choices being made amid rising living costs and shrinking household incomes.

Mrs Roseline Achibong, a charcoal trader in Bwari, said her stocks moved faster than ever before.

She said she bought a bag of charcoal for N6, 500 to N7, 000 and sold to consumers for N8, 500.

Achibong said previously, consumers preferred gas because it was cleaner and more convenient.

She said many customers patronised her every day because they could no longer afford to refill their gas cylinders.

Another charcoal trader in Dutse, Mrs Amina Shuaibu, with excitement on her face, said she smiled to the bank because she made more sales in the business.

“I don dey take good care of my four children now. Before, e dey very hard for me to buy wetin dey want but now, business dey very good.

“Now we dey open shop early and sell our charcoal finish before evening because people now dey use charcoal,” she said in Pidgin English

A food vendor at Federal Secretariat in Abuja, Mr Rejoice Ona, said the escalating cost of gas had significantly increased their operating expenses, forcing them to seek cheaper options to remain in business.

She explained that switching back to charcoal helped reduce daily cooking costs.

“Gas became too expensive. If we continue using only gas, we would have to increase food prices and customers may stop coming,” she said.

The same story is unfolding in countless homes where families are carefully managing limited budgets.

Mrs Adedoyin Fashina, a resident of Dei-Dei, said a bag of charcoal or a bundle of firewood offered a more affordable way to prepare meals than purchasing cooking gas.

She said the demand for charcoal kept increasing because everyone was looking for ways to cut costs.

The renewed interest had also boosted activities along the charcoal supply chain, from producers in rural communities to transporters and wholesalers who moved the products to urban centres.

While traders celebrate the boom, experts say the trend highlights a deeper challenge facing Nigeria’s clean energy ambitions.

Dr Aliyu Ilias, a development expert and customer experience management specialist, expressed frustration over the sharp increase in the price of gas, adding that the situation had become a major burden for many families.

According to him, access to cooking gas has become difficult in some communities, forcing people to travel long distances to refill their cylinders.

“Buying gas at N2, 000 per kilogramme is very high; the money families should be using for other necessities is now being spent on cooking gas.

“As I am speaking to you, I have a gas cylinder in my car because there is no gas in my environment; I have to go far to get it.”

He urged the Federal Government authorities to pay closer attention to essential commodities that directly affected the daily lives of Nigerians, noting that rising energy costs are eroding household purchasing power.

“Government must be conscious of the things Nigerians actually need; we do not need to suffer for this.”

He further called on government to prioritise domestic gas supply and consider measures that would ensure adequate availability of cooking gas within the country before exports are encouraged.

“There should be enough gas available for Nigerians.

“Government should make sure the surplus remains in the country so that consumers can have access to it at affordable prices,” he said.

Aliyu also urged policymakers to implement measures that would stabilise prices, improve distribution networks, and ensure that cooking gas remained accessible and affordable for Nigerians.

Also, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr Auwal Musa, recommended that the federal government should prioritise policies that encourage increased domestic production, processing, and utilisation of gas to reduce excessive dependence on imports and foreign exchange fluctuations.

He called on relevant authorities to assess existing taxes and charges across the LPG value chain with a view to reducing unnecessary costs that were ultimately transferred to consumers.

Musa said regulatory agencies should closely monitor the LPG market to prevent price manipulation, anti-competitive practices, and artificial scarcity.

He urged government to explore targeted social protection measures and clean energy support programmes for low-income households to ensure continued access to affordable cooking energy.

“Increased investment in storage facilities, transportation networks, and distribution infrastructure is critical to improving supply efficiency and reducing logistics costs.

“Supporting local manufacturing of cylinders and related equipment will reduce costs, create jobs, and improve access to LPG nationwide.

“Government should accelerate the implementation of policies aimed at expanding access to affordable clean cooking solutions in line with national development goals and international climate commitments

“The welfare of citizens must remain at the centre of energy policy decisions, especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing unprecedented economic hardship,” he said.

The bustling trade serves as a stark reminder that while cleaner energy remained the goal, affordability ultimately determines the choices many Nigerians made.

Until cleaner cooking fuels become financially accessible to the average household, observers say firewood and charcoal traders are likely to remain among the biggest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s growing energy affordability crisis. (NANFeatures)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

***if used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.